Friday, April 29, 2011

South Carolina -- The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, The Carolinas’ Nuclear Cluster and the Small Business Development Center will host a FREE Nuclear Industry Supplier Information Seminar on Thursday, June 2nd from 9 am – 12 noon at First Federal, 238 S. Coit Street – 3rd Floor.

The nuclear energy industry is ready to provide the reliable, carbonless electricity our world needs, and the Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster plans to be a part of that growth. Small and medium-sized firms can be part of the planning, construction and operation of these power facilities. The nuclear industry has detailed specifications for its suppliers, and knowing those specs are critical to success.

Firms that could be possible suppliers can benefit from this short seminar:

-- Availability of advanced business processes that can aid entering the nuclear market

Registration is limited to the first 35 participants. The Nuclear Cluster is providing this session under its "Innovative Economies" project. This session is for South Carolina-based firms.

To register for this event, go online at http://www.flochamber.com/ This event is organized by the Carolinas Nuclear Cluster, a part of New Carolina (http://www.newcarolina.org/). The Carolinas Nuclear Cluster supports the economic development of the Carolinas through nuclear energy.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Just a last minute reminder about this all-important tax workshop ..... we only hold these twice a year, and they're so important to business owners. The FREE IRS Tax workshops are taught by a CPA and representatives of the SC Employment Security Commission and Department of Revenue. Come make sure that you are in compliance with all the new rules and regulations for the coming tax year!

IRS Tax Workshop -- Tuesday, April 26, 9 am to 3 pm in Room 415 of the College of Business (Thurmond Building) on the campus of Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC. From the I-77 ramp on Cherry Road, head toward Rock Hill until you come to the main campus at the corner of Cherry Road and Oakland Avenue. Take the very next left on to Park Avenue. You will see the Thurmond Bldg. ahead at the stop sign. Parking spots are available in the small lot to your left of our building on the other side of Park Ave. You can also use any green striped parking spots (Visitor's spots) throughout campus.

Friday, April 22, 2011

... Competition invites entrepreneurs to express what being a founder means to them.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is inviting entrepreneurs to read its "Entrepreneur's Pledge," and express what it means to them for a chance to win a ticket to Big Omaha, a sold-out event billed as "the nation's most ambitious conference on innovation and entrepreneurship," to be held May 11-13, 2011 in Omaha, Neb.

The Foundation created the "Pledge" for entrepreneurs to not only publicly express their enthusiasm for being a business owner, but also to show their support for entrepreneurship as a cause. Big Omaha's "Express Your Pledge" competition asks entrepreneurs to review the Pledge and explain in 300 words or less what it means to them and at least two ways they could do a better job fulfilling it.

"Like the Pledge itself, Big Omaha's competition gives founders a chance to voice what it means to contribute to our communities and the economy every day, and to have an opportunity to win a seat at Big Omaha," said Nick Seguin, manager of entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation.

More than 500 innovators and entrepreneurs are expected to attend Big Omaha, which will feature speakers such as Shervin Pishevar, founder and CEO of Social Gaming Network, and Sarah Lacy, senior editor at TechCrunch.

-- I am following a dream, pursuing an opportunity, taking charge of my own destiny.-- I am bringing something of value to society, making a job for myself and for others, and creating wealth that benefits my family, my community, my country, my world.-- I am one of a movement of millions of entrepreneurs and innovators who made America great, and who will continue to keep our economy going...and growing.-- I am what I am because many people have helped me along on this journey.Therefore:-- I will tell my story, sharing my successes and failures, so that others taking the entrepreneurial path can learn.-- I will strive to mentor an aspiring entrepreneur.-- I will make my voice heard by those who make policy decisions that affect me and my business.-- I will appreciate and celebrate my accomplishments, and the accomplishments of all my fellow entrepreneurs.-- I will give back to the society that helped me to be successful.-- I will Build a Stronger America.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

National Prime Contractor & Subcontractor of the Year to be Named During National Small Business Week

WASHINGTON – More than twenty small business contractors, federal acquisition executives and business and industry leaders from around the country will come to Washington, D.C., in mid May 2011 to accept awards for excellence in the federal contracting arena.

Two small businesses from among regional prime contractors and subcontractors of the year will receive the National Prime and Subcontractor of the Year awards honoring small businesses that have provided outstanding goods and services as contractors.

They are among the nation’s top entrepreneurs who will be honored at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week events May 18-20 in Washington, D.C. Under the theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs,” a series of events and educational forums will mark the 58th anniversary of the agency and the 48th annual National Small Business Week.

The procurement award small business winners provide a broad range of products and services to the federal government and private industry including environmental remediation services, the construction of transmission lines, aviation management and staffing services, and they hail from 18 states from Massachusetts to Alaska.

The three-day event in Washington, D.C., will take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Events can be viewed virtually through SBA’s free, live webcasting, which will be accessible at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/. Business owners, business organizations, other individuals and the news media can register online at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com where additional information is available.

Other procurement awards that will be given out during the 2011 National Small Business Week award events include:• The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence, recognizing large prime contractors who have excelled in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.• The Gold Star Award, recognizing exemplary performance of federal staff who manage the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small business in the federal marketplace.• The Frances Perkins Vanguard Award, honoring government and industry for excellence in the use of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.

A complete list of all award winners will be available on the National Small Business Week Web site at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com

Monday, April 18, 2011

Coming! May 24, 2011 -- The Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Council in cooperation with the City of Hampton and Old Dominion University Business Gateway is pleased to present the 1st Annual East Coast Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Conference and Expo.

Held at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, VA, the purpose of the Conference is to provide an opportunity for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB'S) to come together with federal agencies and prime contractors to network and share information.

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour our Expo Hall and meet other contractors and representatives from prime contractors and government agencies as well as take advantage of our separate networking area for longer discussions.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Moms In Business Grant Helps Relieve #1 Pain Point for Women Entrepreneurs

Henderson, NV March 2, 2011 — The National Association For Moms In Business (NAFMIB), the leading association representing the fifteen million entrepreneur, executive and CEO moms in the United States is launching an innovative business grant using the internet phenomenon of “crowdfunding” to give mom business owners a better chance at launching a new business or current business project. It’s the first business grant competition to utilize crowdfunding.

"Crowdfunding" is a platform to raise money by attracting many small donations from a large group (friends, family, professional contacts) to meet a funding goal. "Backers" give contributions in exchange for rewards or perks offered by the grant applicant - rewards can be any product, service or experience to which the grant applicant has access.

The National Association For Moms In Business has partnered with peerbackers.com - a crowdfunding site dedicated to helping entrepreneurs fund their projects - to provide the grant’s crowdfunding technology platform. “We are tackling the # 1 pain point for millions of entrepreneurs – raising the capital they need to start or grow their business. Good business ideas don’t always attract the cash they need from traditional financing sources”, says Sally Outlaw, Co-Founder of peerbackers and mom of two. According to the SBA, Women own over 9 million businesses yet they receive the least amount of financing from traditional sources. Women traditionally own smaller types of businesses that don't meet financial assistance minimums of banks and venture capital firms.

“Moms In Business is giving a crowdfunding business grant rather than using the traditional grant-giving model for three reasons,” says founder and CEO of National Association For Moms In Business, Gina Robison-Billups, “We wanted to provide an innovative way to motivate moms to kick start or grow their businesses. In addition, it's an "everybody wins" scenario where all those that participate have the opportunity to raise money, create exposure and build a following for their business, and lastly, due to the promotional requirements to be successful via crowdfunding, it's a good way to identify those entrepreneurs who will go the extra mile to publicize and build their ventures therefore making them ideal candidates for our grand prize grant of $10,000 in business growth tools.”The Moms In Business Grant is now accepting grant sign ups. Grant competitors must be a member of the National Association For Moms In Business.

Each grant competitor (whether they raise crowdfunding support or not) receives a hefty prize package just for participating.

Each grant competitor will receive:• a half-page feature article about their business in Moms In Business Magazine, • all the money they raise in the crowdfunding competition (less the processing fees), • publicity on both peerbackers.com and momsinbusinessgrant.com• and a publicity toolkit from PRNewswire valued at $2000

The grant’s crowdfunding competition runs from May 1st through June 15th. At that point, when the Crowdfunding competition portion ends, all grant applicants who raised 80% or more of their funding goal will move on to the semi-finalist round where a team of mom executives and entrepreneurs will judge each application on a point system to decide the $10,000 Grand Prize Grant Package winner.

The National Association for Moms in Business (NAFMIB) is the leading national association representing and serving the needs of 15 million entrepreneur, executive and CEO moms. NAFMIB’s outreach exceeds 500,000 moms in business every year. Founded on the core values of Growth, Balance, Wisdom, and Enrichment, NAFMIB programs offer free education, networking, support and advocacy for moms in business. NAFMIB is viewed as the national expert and recognized voice of the 15 million moms in business in the United States. Go to www.MIBN.org

About peerbackers.com

peerbackers is a new way to fund entrepreneurs. It is an online funding platform that allows business owners to raise capital from their “peers” – in small increments – in exchange for tangible rewards to those who contribute. It was founded by Sally Miller Outlaw and Andrew Rachmell of Palm Beach County, Florida.

We assist both existing and start-up businesses with a variety of free services, and offer dozens of business workshops and seminars throughout our region at very low cost. We are funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of SC, and our hosting universities.

About Me

Remember being 6 years old? The world was yours for the asking! No idea was too big to imagine ... no problem unsolveable ... and you were sure a bright future was waiting for you! And while it's not quite so easy in the grown-up world, we help people every day to harness their great ideas, organize their thoughts to turn those ideas into a business concept, and move forward to a bright future as a small business owner!